50mm Lens:
Pros:
* Versatility: The 50mm lens is a great all-around lens. It's suitable for more than just portraits, allowing you to capture landscapes, street scenes, and more. This makes it a good choice if you want one lens that can do many things.
* Field of View: Offers a wider field of view, allowing you to include more of the environment in your portraits. This is great for environmental portraits that tell a story about the subject's surroundings.
* Price: 50mm lenses, especially "nifty fifty" versions (f/1.8 or f/1.4), are generally more affordable than 85mm lenses with similar apertures.
* Compact and Lightweight: Easier to carry around all day.
* Better for Tight Spaces: If you're shooting in a small studio or room, the wider field of view of the 50mm makes it easier to frame your subject without having to move back too far.
* Perspective: A 50mm provides a more natural perspective, closer to how the human eye sees.
Cons:
* Less Background Compression: Doesn't compress the background as much as an 85mm, which means the background can appear more in focus and potentially distracting.
* Can Require Getting Closer: You need to get closer to your subject to fill the frame, which can sometimes feel less comfortable for both the photographer and the subject.
* Perspective Distortion at Close Range: If you get *too* close (e.g., for tight headshots), the 50mm can introduce slight distortion, making features like the nose appear larger. This is less noticeable with longer lenses.
85mm Lens:
Pros:
* Excellent Background Compression: Compresses the background significantly, creating a shallow depth of field and beautiful bokeh (blurred background). This helps isolate the subject and draw attention to them.
* Flattering Perspective: Provides a flattering perspective for portraits, avoiding distortion and often smoothing out facial features. It tends to make the face look slimmer.
* Comfortable Working Distance: Allows you to maintain a comfortable distance from your subject, which can make them feel more relaxed and natural. This distance is great for candid shots.
* Excellent for Headshots and Close-Ups: The compression and flattering perspective make it ideal for close-up portraits where you want to highlight facial features.
Cons:
* Less Versatile: Primarily a portrait lens. Not as well-suited for other types of photography.
* More Expensive: 85mm lenses, especially those with wide apertures, are typically more expensive than 50mm lenses.
* Larger and Heavier: Can be more cumbersome to carry around.
* Requires More Space: Needs more room to work with, which can be a limitation in small spaces. You may have to back up quite a bit to get the composition you want.
* Can Feel Isolating: The extreme shallow depth of field can sometimes feel isolating, particularly if you want to include some environmental context in your portrait.
Here's a table summarizing the key differences:
| Feature | 50mm | 85mm |
|-------------------|------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| Versatility | High | Low |
| Field of View | Wider | Narrower |
| Background Compression | Less | More |
| Perspective | More natural | More flattering, less distortion |
| Working Distance | Closer | Further |
| Price | Generally less expensive | Generally more expensive |
| Size/Weight | More compact and lightweight | Larger and heavier |
| Best For | Environmental portraits, full body shots, tight spaces | Headshots, close-ups, blurred backgrounds |
Which Lens is Right for You?
Consider these questions when making your decision:
* What style of portraits do you shoot? Do you prefer environmental portraits or close-up headshots?
* Where do you typically shoot? Do you work in a studio, outdoors, or in tight spaces?
* What's your budget?
* What kind of aesthetic do you prefer? Do you like a shallow depth of field with blurred backgrounds, or do you prefer to have more of the environment in focus?
General Recommendations:
* Beginner: A 50mm f/1.8 is a great starting point for learning portrait photography. It's affordable, versatile, and teaches you how to work with composition and depth of field.
* Environmental Portraits: 50mm or even wider lenses are often preferred.
* Headshots and Studio Portraits: 85mm is a classic choice for its flattering perspective and background compression.
* Limited Space: 50mm is generally better in confined spaces.
* Ultimate Blur (Bokeh) and Isolation: 85mm with a fast aperture (f/1.4 or f/1.8) will create stunningly blurred backgrounds.
In Conclusion:
There is no definitive "best" lens. Both 50mm and 85mm lenses are excellent choices for portrait photography, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Experiment with both focal lengths to see which one best suits your style and preferences. Many photographers ultimately own both lenses and choose the appropriate one based on the specific shooting situation.